The couple told Us Weekly that former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin did not know about their plans until now.

"We got engaged two weeks ago," the magazine quotes 19-year-old Bristol Palin as saying. "It felt right, even though we don't have the approval of our parents."

Sarah Palin has not yet commented on the report.

"It is intimidating and scary just to think about what her reaction is going to be. Hopefully she will jump on board," the magazine quotes Bristol Palin as saying.

The two reconciled three months ago during custody discussions about their 18- month-old son, Tripp.

Johnston, 20, told the magazine, "I really thought we were over. So when I went, I had no hope. I think we both just started talking - and then we took Tripp for a walk."

"They opened up to us about how they had the baby so young and it was really hard for them to work together to raise Tripp," Us Weekly Senior Editor Lindsey Powers told CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday. "But as they got a little bit closer, Bristol moved out of her parents' home to a condo in Anchorage, they got accustomed to parenting and as they worked out a custody plan, they started spending a lot more time together then started realizing they wanted to reunite."

Powers said the engagement "would fit in with (Sarah Palin's) 'family values' platform. What better than to have your daughter reuniting with the father of the baby and reuniting the family?"

Johnston sent Bristol Palin a text that said, "I miss you. I love you. I want to be with you again." and she was in shock, Powers told CNN.

"They realized that they're really in love and they're together. And she was thrilled when he popped the question with a one-carat diamond ring that you can see the photo of in the new issue," Powers said.

"They say they want it to be quick so, certainly, we'll see them walking down the aisle shortly."

Their teenage relationship fell under an intense public spotlight after Sen. John McCain picked Palin as his vice presidential running mate in August 2008. The couple broke off their engagement about two months after their son's birth in December 2008.

After the couple broke up, Johnston posed in Playgirl Magazine, and said on "The Tyra Banks Show" that they had been allowed to live together, a charge the Palin camp denied.

Johnston irked Sarah Palin last fall by claiming that she referred to her infant son Trig (who has Down syndrome) as "retarded." According to Us Weekly, she fired back, telling reporters that anyone who posed for Playgirl would "say and do anything for even more attention." Later, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, she dubbed him "Ricky Hollywood" and called his "aspiring porn" career "heartbreaking."

During a nasty custody battle last year, Johnston asked that the case be conducted in public to protect him from Sarah Palin, whom he said was "powerful, politically ambitious and has a reputation for being extremely vindictive."

Bristol Palin said in the custody hearing that Johnston wanted a public case so he could "continue to make a spectacle of this custody dispute for his own self-promotion."

Bristol Palin asked that the paternal grandmother be barred from having any unsupervised visitation with Tripp. Her petition said she "may re-offend, keep medications around the house which could be accessible to the baby, have illegal drug users come to the house (or she could take the baby in her car during a drug sale)."

Johnston's response said his mother's "chronic pain condition is currently being managed in coordination with the Department of Corrections."

On July 7, Johnston publicly apologized to the Palin family in a statement to People Magazine, saying some of his comments about the family were not totally true.

"Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry. Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true," Johnston told People. "I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah. Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize."

soundoff(287 Responses)

Bertina

How is this political news?

July 14, 2010 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

Linda C

Let's address the important issues here...
Off subject: Why is it that the hypocrite Hollywood community are currently vacationing in Europe when they could be vacationing in America and contribute to our economy, especially the Gulf Coast?

July 14, 2010 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

Jeff S

Something to keep in mind...these are 19 year old kids, dealing with a situation like they were (mom as governor and running as VP) I don't blame them for any missteps/missspeaks along the way, nor am I shocked that Bristol clearly doesn't have a lot of trust in her mother.

July 14, 2010 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Four and The Door

It took a few odd turns, but these are young people and this is a great place for these two to be right now. I wish them the best.

July 14, 2010 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Geoz

Now THAT, my friends, is a courtship.

July 14, 2010 10:20 am at 10:20 am |

Ron

Really? Who cares about this?

July 14, 2010 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

DENESE

Who cares? Why are you still reporting on this couple? Why not Chelsea Clinton or someone who didn't have a child out of wedlock? This is so ridiculous!

I think it's sweet and I wish them the best. Obviously they loved each other before and the birth of their child combined with their youth and public exposure had to be very difficult for their relationship. I'm really happy that they were able to re-connect and wish them the best :)

July 14, 2010 10:22 am at 10:22 am |

rk

oh yes, let's see how long this goes.

July 14, 2010 10:23 am at 10:23 am |

Kevin Kigen

There will be now stories, talks, rumors, discussions, outrages, etc., but the most importnat thing here is that two young parents worked their differences out, reunited and that their child would have much better chances to live normal and happy life. I wish them all the best!

July 14, 2010 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

drew

Thank God. Now I can go back to ignoring the Palinscapades.

July 14, 2010 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

Bertina

We can comment on this inanity but not when the lord god Sarah Palin speaks apparently.

July 14, 2010 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

proud dem in nc

Unbelievable!!!! What a dysfunctional family!!!!

July 14, 2010 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

Doogie

She didn't need her parents' permission to get knocked up–why would she need their permission to marry the dad.

Wonder how much $ Levi got for this publicity stunt. It'll look better for Sarah if she's going to run for president if she doesn't have an unwed mother in the background.

July 14, 2010 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

Ron in california

Hate to snipe but Levi didn't cash in on his prevous 15 minutes of fame so he's back for more. Let's hope he has grown up. Sarah Palin should have him sign a non disclosure agreement.

July 14, 2010 10:25 am at 10:25 am |

MARKPAIN

They really do deserve privacy no matter what anyone thinks of them or the former candidates stupidity.

July 14, 2010 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

Len Smith

Is this really news that CNN should report? Who cares? It is all about MONEY, MONEY. Now that Bristol is being paid big time to tell others that they should have sex. Really?????????????

July 14, 2010 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

Les

Wow, I bet that will make for some very interesting family get togethers! Sarah and Levi together at Christmas! What a thought!

July 14, 2010 10:26 am at 10:26 am |

dew

theres no way i would let this jerk in my faimly.wait a couple of years and he will get enough stuff of then he will right a book. this guy belongs on jerry springer he's a loser.

July 14, 2010 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

Dano

"It is intimidating and scary just to think about what her reaction is going to be." the magazine quotes Bristol Palin as saying.

What a telling statement that your 19 year old daughter is afraid of how you'll react to her becoming engaged to the father of her baby. Apparently Caribou Barbie scares the you-know-what out of just about everybody. God help us all if this deranged woman ever achieves a position of power in our government!

July 14, 2010 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

MarkThisDown

Let's see... something's coming up in 2012 and I just can't seem to recall what it is.

July 14, 2010 10:28 am at 10:28 am |

FL

Shouldn't this be in the entertainment news section and not the political ticker? Great for them, but not really political news.